356 GADWALL DUCK. 
teriorly with two series of scutella, the outer shorter, the rest covered 
with reticulated angular scales; toes obliquely scutellate above; first 
very small, free, with a narrow membrane beneath; third longest, 
fourth considerably shorter, second shorter than fourth, their connect- 
ing webs entire, on the edge crenate; the second or inner toe with 
a membranous margin. Claws small, slightly arched, compressed, 
rather acute, the hind one very small and more curved, that of the 
middle toe with an inner sharp edge. 
Plumage dense, soft, blended. Feathers of the head short, of the 
occiput and nape a little elongated, of the lower parts glossy with the 
extremities of the filaments stiffish. Wings rather long, little curved, 
pointed ; the first quill longest, the rest rapidly graduated; secon- 
daries very broad, but pointed, the inner much elongated, and tapering 
toa point. The tips of the filaments of the outer web of the first pri- 
mary are separated and curved a little forwards. Tail short, rounded, 
of sixteen strong pointed feathers, of which the middle pair project 
considerably. 
Bill bluish-black. Iris reddish hazel. Feet dull orange-yellow, 
claws brownish-black, webs dusky. Head light yellowish-red, the up- 
per part and nape much darker and barred with dusky ; the rest dotted 
with the same. The lower part of the neck, the sides of the body, the 
fore part of the back, and the outer scapulars, undulated with dusky, 
and yellowish-white, the bands much larger and semicircular on the 
fore part of the neck and breast ; the latter white, the abdomen faintly 
and minutely undulated with brownish-grey; the elongated scapulars 
brownish-grey, broadly margined with brownish-red ; the hind part of 
the back brownish-black ; the rump all round, and the upper and lower 
tail-coverts, bluish-black. The anterior smaller wing-coverts are light 
grey, undulated with dusky, the middle coverts of a deep rich chestnut- 
red; primary coverts brownish-grey, outer secondary coverts darker 
and tinged with chestnut, the rest black, excepting the inner, which are 
grey. Primaries and inner elongated secondaries brownish-grey, of 
which colour also are the inner webs of the rest, part of the outer webs 
of five of the outer black, and their terminal margins white, of which 
colour are the whole outer webs of the three next to the inner elongated 
quills. Tail brownish-grey, the feathers margined with paler. 
Length to end of tail 213 inches, to end of wings 19, to end of claws 
231; extent of wings 35; bill along the ridge 13, along the edge of 
lower mandible 1% ; wing from flexure 11; tail 43 ; tarsus 13; hind toe 
